Snappy horse/excessive eater/drinker?

[seabsicuit2]

Are these symptoms indicative of anything?

-excessive drinker ( drinks 2 x 75 litre tub trugs every 24 hours)

-eats a huge amount of hay ( he is 16.2 and eats at least 8 large slices per day, more than double what my other large horses have ) always hungry and desperate for food

- always extremely angry in the stable, ears flat back, constantly snapping, if he cant bite you he will bite something else. When I say 'bite' he would actually try his hardest not to physically touch you, but will stand there in his stable snapping away with his mouth looking very angry..if you tell him off he seems to get even angrier and will physically go and bite something else, almost seems to be trying to tell you just how angry he is ( just like a man hitting the wall in temper if he cant hit the person he is angry with!!)

- formerly a very crabby and lethargic ride, and very nappy, but now hugely improved ( horse only been on the yard a few months) and is now 80% more than willing to go forwards, actually jig-jogs on hacks now with ears pricked and is up for it, when he was hardly motivated to move much at all before. (& I mean he really didnt want to move much!) The quality of his work is generally outstanding in the school and arena and he gives everything, tho still prone to the odd stuffy/crabby moment 2 or 3 times in a session, but this is generally improving.

- Doesnt like being out for more than 2 hours, has a tantrum if left out any longer

Absolutely fine about being brushed. Angry when you rug up. Was angry about saddle being put on, but that seemed to be habit, told him to stop doing it and he now stands there quite happily and quietly.

Might he have Ulcers? Anything else? is the excessive eating/drinking indicative of anything? or is this just the way he is?

He is in excellent condition, shiny coat, more on the porky side than lean side, which is probably my fault as i dont want to leave him without hay as it would just make him angrier.

Any ideas?

I am convinced that this horse has a really lovely temperment there underneath the angry face that is dying to come out!

Oh- the only time I've noticed him looking happy in the stable is just after he's had a nap......that will be the only time he will stand there with his ears pricked looking calm and peacefull.

 

[cptrayes]

Water/hunger/behaviour and sleep all symptomatic of diabetes, very rare in horses.

Water/hunger/rugging and saddling issues all possible symptoms of kidney failure, rare in horses but I had one.

Ulcers a definite possiblity, can you have him scoped under insurance, if not PM me.

Manic eating and overweight BIG indicator of insulin resistance, water intake may be related to insulin control too. Key is to restrict his food intake for several days to a normal amount for 24 hours but drip feed it in as many feeds as you can, not less than five. After three days or so he should lose the desperate hunger, which is caused by spikes of insulin which are caused by him bolting huge amounts of food, it's a vicious circle with these horses - the eat because they are starving, eating makes them feel as if they are starving ...... Cut out ALL sugar/molasses/corn syrup (check the bag labels) and soak hay for 12 hours. Take great care with both frosty and spring grass, possibly all year round grass.

 

[donquixote]

Hi, your horse sounds a bit like mine. He went from being a happy, soppy youngster to a grumpy git seemingly overnight when he hit 5. I was warned he might when I bought him as a foal - he's by Demonstrator and others have found that though his offspring are hugely talented they can have attitude! I'm not so sure the behaviour is inherited though. He wants to eat all the time and pees for England (has water drinker so I can only assume he drinks alot).

Mine has also had long standing work issues - one day great, forward and willing, the next stuffy, crabby and nappy. He works brilliantly in the school, wins dressage classes etc, then with no reason will be 'off' again. I tried physio, vets, about a hundred different saddles etc etc... Then two years ago, out of the blue he got a horrible attack of laminitis in all four feet. it was a nightmare to limit his hay/feed but he did finally get used to little and often and now kicks off a lot less about food. I am assuming this, as Cptrays says is due to insulin levels.

However, my horse is about to go barefoot (re-hab at Rockley Farm) and I really feel that his long standing work issues have been related to his feet. For instance - he has been pottery and way quiet for months now, finally diagnosed with navicular syndrome (long story, check my thread on barefoot advice for his tales of woe). I feel terrible that he has obviously had this problem for ages and being bilaterally lame it went unoticed (by everyone including vets). I believe he has been 'wrong' on his feet for far longer than I want to think, as he has never been consistently quite 'right'. I also feel that his grumpiness may have been down to pain for some time. I could well be proved wrong over the next few months, but it's a theory.
Last week he was shod for the last time before his re-hab. Before shoeing he was short, pottery and very quiet as he has been for the last three months. My farrier did very little but made some slight changes to the way he normally does him and hey presto! all of a sudden he was leaping around when trotted up and for the first time in months had a hooly in the field. He is still feeling better today - and much nicer to be around. So, I wonder how much of a horses behaviour has to do with pain or discomfort in their feet? if low grade laminitis is present and/or heel pain etc from a slight balance issue, could this be a reason?

 

[Britestar]

A friend of mine has a horse that drinks excessively. Its under Veterinary supervision at the moment, having restricted water, a certain amount given at regular intervals throughout the day.

She has to collect urine daily and hand in to be tested. they are seeing if she can concentrate the urine, as it was very dilute. If she can concentrate it it points towards psychogenic polydipsia. All other reasons for her drinking excessively have been ruled out - cushings, hyperthyroid, insulin resistance plus a whole heap of other things.

This horse also gets large ventral odemas, which come and go, but can't be ruled in/out to do with the polydispia.

She has flumoxed a lot of Vets!

 

[Sandylou]

Does your horse have muscle tremors, lie down a lot and look tucked at all?